APCI members who want to develop their immunization practice with employer groups now have an additional resource to help promote their efforts.

Bobby Little, APCI's Director of Retail Operations, is now available to help members market their immunization clinics to employers.

"We are here to go with you to help sell the clinic to employers with large numbers of employees," Little said. "The idea is that I will come and help you sell the program to these people."

The idea behind the program is to have APCI staff enhance existing relationships between member pharmacies and large employers in their communities, said Bruce Harris, APCI Professional and Clinical Affairs Specialist.

"The challenge isn't selling the flu shot – it's selling who will provide the service," Harris said. "We want [our member pharmacy] to be that provider. The advantage of a local community pharmacy being that provider is that these companies usually already have an established relationship with the pharmacy. We would hope that most of the prescriptions for employees are already being filled by the local independent pharmacy. These are the same people whose kids go to school together, who attend church together, and see each other at the little league ball park. That's not always the case with our large-chain competitors."

Additionally, Harris said that the flu shots are a no-brainer for the companies being approached.

"Companies are generally already sold on the value of immunizations," Harris said. "From a company's perspective, we're talking about risk reduction. These companies understand that if they provide a flu shot, with that upfront cost, they are avoiding more costs later. For example, Employee X gets the flu, and is out of work for a week. Additionally, Employee X also infects Employees W, Y, and Z with the virus, and they are out of work for a week. All of that could have been avoided with a flu shot."

Harris added that the advantages for pharmacies are also readily apparent.

"First, offering immunizations ought to be an easy non-dispensing revenue generator," he said. "It should be second nature that pharmacies are immunization providers. Second, offering flu shots can generate foot traffic, which will also generate revenue. And third, offering immunizations can be a gateway into other clinical services provided by the pharmacy."

"From a patient care perspective, APCI member pharmacies who participate in immunizations are increasing the overall quality of care; they are increasing the number of vaccines administered in a specific location; and they are decreasing the incidence of preventable diseases in that area as a direct result," Harris added.

For more information on expanding your pharmacy's immunization efforts, contact Bobby Little at bobbyl@apcinet.com or Bruce Harris at bruceh@apcinet.com.